Djibouti (SD) – The Russian government has for the first time publicly addressed its intention of setting up a military base in Berbera, Somaliland.

Russia is currently not looking to set up a military base in Berbera, according to Ambassador Mikhail Golovanov.

“Russia is not planning to build a military base in Berbera,” Mikhail said in a brief statement., adding “there has been no related talks between the two sides”.

Mikhail’s comments come in the wake of a New York Times report that Russia is planning a military base in Berbera.

The report said, the Russian government is closely monitoring the Berbera coast, which it wants to establish a base, even though the Russian government has distanced itself from the reality of the plan, it didn’t rule it out all together.

The Russians, then the Soviet Union had a large base in Berbera, prior to the Siyad are government forcing them to abandon it in the Seventies, due to the Soviet’s allegiance with Ethiopia.